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"I must leave it to my friends to decide if this is a bargain worth striking."
Paritosh frowns faintly, brushing a fleck of dust from his sleeve as though to buy himself a moment. "A clever turning of words, master of stone, though not one I can swallow so easily. You say no theft was done, only carelessness rewarded. Yet to my eyes, that is like saying a caravan lost to bandits was not robbed, but simply stumbled into ‘other hands.’ Perhaps true in a poet’s sense, but the victims remain bereft all the same." He leans on his khopesh, tone steady though edged with wariness. "Still—you speak of fairness, and of price. I am no merchant of numbers or clauses, and I have no wish to wrangle with earth itself over semantics. What I would hear from you is this: what is the ‘correct price’ to restore what you took? Speak plainly, for if you mean to deal, then let us see the shape of the bargain before we weigh its worth."
Paritosh inclines his head, keeping his hands well away from any contracts, seals, or suspiciously shiny quills. "A fair wind and plain speech, Master Okous. We come from Muluk at the behest of Hafiz ben Wasil al-Adad of the Mosque of Zann. He offered to teach a petitioner and woke to find his gift… not taught, but gone. We seek the return of what was to be learned, not taken." He glances at his companions, then back to the dao with a half-smile. "I’m no scholar of sums nor wrangler of genie-clauses, and I prefer my bargains without hidden trapdoors. Still, we’ve come to parley rather than quarrel. If there is an honorable way to set this right—be it trade, recompense, or some other consideration—we’re ready to hear it. Will you receive our terms, and show us by what right you claim what was never sold?"
Paritosh nods.
"Offended? No. Confused? Probably. I'm a simple sand-elf, and we don't have such big words as she uses."
Paritosh blinks in puzzlement at Fadilah’s words, then glances down at his khopesh.
"Can any of you explain why I was so ineffective in that fight, and how I can correct it for the future? I am no fool. I am not brought here by the gods for my charm, good looks, and great ideas, but rather for my proficiency with the blade. If that has failed me, then I am a lodestone amongst you."
Paritosh keeps attacking...
[b]"Ummm, this thing ain't taking like like it should, that was a good whack I gave it!"[/back]
Paritosh moves in and attacks...
"What are we dealing with here?"
"Ah, yes, this is exactly why I tend to avoid contracts with Genies," Paritosh says with a small chuckle, his fingers absently stroking his chin. "Never quite know what you're getting yourself into. One moment you're dealing with a seemingly harmless merchant, and the next... well, you find yourself dealing with a wind-blown flirtation and all sorts of twisted magic." He looks at Qittat for a moment, his expression one of mild bemusement. "It's all a bit too entangled for my liking. And this," he gestures with a flourish toward Qittat's antics, "this is exactly why I prefer simpler creatures to deal with. Genies, as I've learned, always have some trick up their sleeve. They never show all their cards, and it’s all part of their... game." "But, if we must play along, I’ll not abandon my companions," he adds with a resigned shrug. "After all, you’ve all gotten yourselves into this mess, and I’m not the sort to let friends face a tricky genie alone. But mark my words—once this is over, no more contracts with beings made of smoke and fire. Please?!"
"Happens to me all the time, in my dreams."
Paritosh draws his weapon and moves to stand by the ladies. ”Another dance!”
I have returned!
Ok Heroes, I head out to Scouts BSA Summer Camp tomorrow morning for a week. Wish me luck with that endeavor. Following that, it is family reunion at a State Park for the next week. If I pop in to the game, it will be quick, and not very substantial, so press on, and keep things moving.
Sure, let's pay the man and see what we got!
As long as it's not apricots!
"Well, it seems we're in this together, for better or worse," Paritosh says with a wry smile, folding his arms across his chest. "I must admit, the idea of dealing with a genie... again... leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I’ve long since learned to avoid their contracts. Magic, especially of the arcane and planar sort, is tricky enough without involving creatures of smoke and fire." He glances at the tome in Fadilah’s hands and then at the others, his face turning thoughtful. "As for this whole equation business—well, I’ve never been much of a mathematician, nor a fan of convoluted calculations. The last time I tried to balance my accounts, I ended up with more holes in my purse than answers. And magic? I’m no wizard, much less some conjurer of complex formulas." Paritosh lets out a long sigh, clearly not enthused. "That said, I’m hardly one to abandon my companions when the stakes are this high. If you’re all willing to face down a genie and its tricks, I’ll stand with you, though I’d prefer a more direct route. But mark my words: once this is done, I’m done with any dealings that involve genies. I’d rather face a dragon at this point." He shifts his weight, looking more amused than worried. "I’ll follow along, but if things get too complicated—well, I’m better with my blade than a chalkboard."
"Well, I suppose this is why I tend to avoid contracts with Genies," Paritosh says with a small chuckle, leaning back slightly as he strokes his chin thoughtfully. "They always seem to get a bit too... entangled. This one has turned out quite a pickle. I’ve been warned for years about the trickery of these creatures, but I must admit, I never thought I would get involved in such a convoluted affair." He glances at the others with a rueful grin. "But, as usual, if you all are going to be so noble and brave, I’ll not abandon you. After all, I don’t suppose I can let my companions face a powerful genie alone, especially when the stakes are as high as they are. But, mark my words, once this is over, I’ll stick to contracts that don’t involve beings of fire and smoke. I prefer my enemies more... straightforward."
I wouldn't even know what to shop for. Probably they sell 8 different types of apricots, which does me no good.
Paritosh looks to one of the ladies to make the report.
"Ok, so what is our plan now friends?"
"When you say 'blow up,' do you mean like the puffer frogs of the desert oasis does when calling their mates?"
With that bit of information, Paritosh takes the job of moving them a bit more seriously.
Paritosh will help, hoping to bring some banapples.
"Perhaps we should load the carpet up with these banapples. They are delicious." He starts in on another one.
Paritosh will eat a couple banapples while the others figure out what the heck is going on here.
Paritosh will drag the body inside.
"I have a thought," Paritosh says with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why don’t I walk around the room, step on every piece of carpet, rug, towel, or any other cloth I can find, and chant a few magical phrases like, 'Vezaroth Khaar, Felek'thun Draz!' and 'Luthri'ma Vasor, Kesh'ra'ra Thal!' Who knows, something might activate." He smiles, clearly enjoying his own suggestion. "It’s not exactly scientific, but it could be a fun experiment. And if nothing else, I might just get an amusing reaction from the fabric itself!" He winks, clearly confident in his absurd approach.
"It's a bag of damn apricots, isn't it?"
With the pot handled, Paritosh will swing at the girl...
vs 18
Paritosh will calmly reach down and pluck the burning wick from the clay pot.
Paritosh attacks her twice.
Success 3HP of damage?
Hearing the signal, Paritosh springs into action...
Paritosh will plan to enact his original plan of maximum violence when he emerges, hopefully stepping between the man and his escape route.
Fellow gamers, we're going out of town for a week, I should be back and able to post next Saturday!
Paritosh dejectedly replies, "as you wish."
"I must admit, Zairiah, your planning is impressive, but I cannot help but feel the need for more... direct action." Paritosh’s voice holds a hint of excitement as he steps forward, his posture growing more tense. "We have tracked this wizard for long enough, and now that we know where he hides, I say we strike before he has a chance to flee again. The time for subtlety is over." He looks at the others, his eyes gleaming with a sort of eager determination. "I believe we should rush in, hack him into small, manageable pieces before he has a chance to use whatever ‘teleportation’ nonsense he has. If he’s really as powerful as you say, then we must act fast." He shakes his head with a smirk. "Luring him out? A clever idea, no doubt, but I do not have the patience for that. I say we do not waste another moment. If we can catch him off guard, it’s better to eliminate him quickly." He laughs softly, almost to himself. "I suppose I shall be the one leading the charge, then. If anyone is up for it, of course. We can’t have him running off with that carpet and wreaking havoc." His voice drops slightly, and he adds with a smirk, "but if we must, I shall follow your plan, of course. But when the time comes, let us make it swift."
"Ah, I see," Paritosh says with a slight nod of agreement, looking at Zairiah as she shares her thoughts. "That’s a clever deduction, the banapple connection is quite telling. And, the details you're picking up... I must say, I find your mind fascinating." He leans back slightly, his eyes scanning over the others, as if marveling at her insight. "It’s not often that one finds such sharpness in a woman. In my homeland, we were always taught that women should not concern themselves with matters of intellect or business. They were meant to stay quiet and obedient. But now... I am beginning to wonder if those old teachings are wrong." He shakes his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "You’ve proven that the mind, regardless of gender, is the sharpest weapon. I think I’ve been misled all my life." He chuckles softly, his tone light. "I must admit, I’m a bit disappointed. Here I thought I would be ‘Nura’s man,’" He winks with a playful grin, ready to follow her lead as they move forward with the investigation.
"I must admit," Paritosh begins with a slight shrug, "I am no expert in the ways of magic or thieves, but I believe I can deduce a few things based on what we’ve observed." He taps his chin thoughtfully, eyes narrowing in contemplation. "It seems clear to me that this wizard, with some proclivity toward flame—perhaps even tied to the Brotherhood of Flame—used his magical abilities to bypass the shop's defenses. I suspect he called upon a form of shifting magic, a quickstep between worlds, and appeared inside the shop without disturbing the door or window. Once inside, I believe he used his power to sense the subtle energy of the carpets, quickly locating the one he sought." He pauses for a moment, his gaze flicking toward the others. "Given the sulfurous residue, it seems likely he has an affinity with fire magic—something explosive, if you will, a type of magical signature that fits. After securing the carpet, he probably shifted back to wherever he came from, leaving no trace behind except for the lingering signs of his arcane presence." Paritosh shrugs again, looking slightly uncomfortable with his assumptions but confident in his reasoning. "As for the dog, I cannot say for certain whether it was harmed during the wizard's visit, but... perhaps Fadilah or Frackit might have better luck speaking with the animal. They could ask the dog what happened, if it remembers anything. Though, if the dog was indeed burnt, that would speak to our theory about the wizard's fiery connection." He looks around, clearly open to any further thoughts or ideas, but his tone remains sure. "I believe this path leads us closer to the answers we seek."
Success
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